This is believed to be the first time in recent legal directory history that an editor has jumped between Chambers and Legal 500, or vice versa.

David Burgess, Legal 500’s publishing director, told me:

“We’ve launched this product in response to demand from global clients. As part of our coverage of Latin America, we’ll be focusing on all the major domestic jurisdictions, as well as the capabilities of international law firm operating in the region. Currently, the Legal 500 website receives 300,000 unique visitors a month, and there is considerable interest in Latin America from these readers.”

Legal 500 plans to announce more details about the Latin America directory and submission process in due course.

(Pictured: San Pedro de Atacama, Chile – taken by Lloyd Pearson in 2008)

Chambers & Partners has announced a new awards initiative to recognize the achievements of the top female attorneys.

Named the “Women in Law Awards”, an event will be held in New York in January 2012.

Individual winners will be determined on the basis of the Chambers USA 2012 research.

In each category, an “Up and Coming Lawyer of the Year” will be recognized alongside more established names.

Although there is no formal submission process for the individual awards, firms are able to prepare a brief submission in two law firm award categories: “Most Innovative Gender Diversity Initiative” and “Best Mentoring Program”

These 800-word entries should be sent to catherinem@chambersandpartners.com by Friday, November 18 2011.

The rankings, which are presented in tiers, showcase almost 10,000 different law firms ranked nationally in one or more of 75 legal practice areas, and in metropolitan or state rankings in one or more of 119 legal practice areas.

An addition this year is the naming of one “Law Firm of the Year” in each of the 75 nationally ranked practice areas.

Results will be featured on the U.S.News website, which receives seven million unique visitors a month. First tier rankings are included in U.S. News & World Report’s “Money” issue, and in a “Best Law Firms” stand-alone publication sent to 30,000 general counsel and 58,000 private practice lawyers.